In the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, a two-and-a-half hour show of traditional dance, Bollywood music and huge fireworks gave the finishing sparkle to an event that survived rocky preparations and daily operational hiccups.
With many Indians pointing out that pessimistic international expectations had been proved wrong, organizers said their decision to hold the Games in fast-developing India was a major gamble that had paid off.
Unfinished athletes' accommodation, security fears, big-name withdrawals and poor ticket sales were among a myriad of difficulties that got the Games off to an uncertain start.
But the occasion closed on a high after Indian athletes performed beyond all expectations to finish second in the overall medals table, sneaking ahead of England with badminton gold late on Thursday.
Attendances at most venues improved dramatically, no militant attack materialized, and glitches over transport, and a stomach bug among swimmers were all overcome.
Britain's Prince Edward officially closed the Games in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the organizing committee who bore much of the criticism about the Games.
"A month ago questions were being asked whether the Games would be held at all," admitted Kalmadi whose speech was greeted by boos by the crowd.
Instead the event had shown "India's ability to stand up and show the world what we can achieve, despite being faced with adversity," he said.
"All this has made what has turned out to be the largest, the most watched and the most enjoyable Games ever."
The closing ceremony featured hundreds of dancers brandishing fighting sticks, military bands and children forming the Indian flag before the athletes arrived in a cheerful parade that set the evening's informal tone.
Glasgow marked the start of its role as Commonwealth Games host for 2014 with a lone bagpiper who was soon joined by 352 kilted dancers and an inflatable model of the elusive Loch Ness monster.
The Scottish city is likely to focus on solving Delhi's struggle to attract many world-class stars -- and it may also balk at matching the bill of the Delhi extravaganza, which is thought to have cost up to six billion dollars.
Doubts over the long-term prospects for the Commonwealth Games -- the third largest multi-sport event in the world after the Summer Olympics and the Asian Games -- were brushed aside in Delhi's party atmosphere.
The Games, in which 71 nations, nearly all from the former British Empire, compete, remains an unusual blend of popular sports such as athletics and lesser known ones such as lawn bowls and netball.
Earlier, the drama of the last of the 272 gold medals provided the perfect finale for the Indian hosts as poster girl Saina Nehwal saved a match point against Malaysia's Wong Mew Choo in winning the women's singles badminton title.
That was India's 38th gold, one clear of England and for the first time ensuring them second place in the Commonwealth Games medals table. Australia were runaway winners with 74 golds and a total of 176.
"This was the toughest match of my career," said Nehwal.
"I couldn't sleep and I had a lot of tension, which meant I did not always play at my best. All Indian players face that here, but for me I only get it in finals."
Wong had nearly beaten the Hyderabad heroine in the team event six days previously, and would have done so in straight games this time had Nehwal's kill at the net at 20-21 traveled a fraction further.
Instead it landed plumb on the baseline and soon afterwards India was celebrating with a two-and-a-half hour long closing spectacular filled with dance, music, light-shows and finally fireworks.
Nehwal's win also eased Indian pain from earlier in the day when their men's hockey team crashed 8-0 to world champions Australia in a record loss.
Earlier, Kenya finished top nation in athletics by winning the men's and women's marathon races and New Zealand defended their netball title in a cliffhanger over Australia.
There was relief on the part of the organizers that the Games had gone off without a major security incident, even if the precautions taken meant that, events like the marathons and cycling road races took place in eerie isolation.
But other issues remained to be put under the microscope, notably over the way that New Delhi staggered into the competition with filthy athletes' lodgings, crumbling infrastructure and health concerns.
Media covering the event were also incensed by a shambolic Games information system that left them struggling to gather even the most basic of news items.
The very future of the Commonwealth Games seemed to be on the line at times, 80 years after it first sprung into life as the British Empire Games.
Commonwealth Games chief Mike Fennell saluted Delhi 2010, but admitted that the creaking showpiece needs to rethink its timing and rebrand its image.
"Last year I gave a press conference here and I was asked if there was a Plan B. I said Plan B was Delhi and Delhi has performed," he said.
Despite his praise for the Games, Fennell admitted that the timing of the event, already being held in a jam-packed sports calendar and in a year, which has already seen a Winter Olympics and football World Cup, needs to be reviewed.
"It's a challenge. We have to ensure that we attract the best athletes. For track and field, October is not the best month. Some are back at school and for many the season is over," he said.
"It's important to attract the best athletes and impress on them that it's important for the careers. We have to rebuild the brand ahead of Glasgow in 2014."
Kenya's marathon double through John Kelai and Irene Kosgei bore testimony to one country, which did decide to send their top athletes.
The big and strong Kelai took control of the men's race with around 25 minutes to go when he made his move with a subtle increase in pace that took him away from the field.
"I'm so humbled to win here, it is an honor," said Kelai.
"This is for my country, the people, the coaches and officials. All of us are going to celebrate. When you can win at this level you know you have reached your peak."
In a race run in difficult circumstances with hot and humid weather, Kosgei was also crowned champion, claiming Kenya's first-ever Commonwealth Games women's marathon title.
But the day firmly belonged to India, who finished the Games in fitting style with Nehwal's emotional win and a majestic spectacle in a packed Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.
